An old custom from the Middles Ages in France, catholics were allowed a one-day respite from the rigours of Lent to enjoy themselves, to break up in two the 40 days fast prior to Easter, thus the Mi-, the middle. Mi-carêmers go from house to house (01) disguised from head to toe while their host tried to guess their identity.

It was the job of the mi-caremes to act, to change their voice and mannerisms and the job of the people in the house to identify them (02). This guessing game involve music, food and plenty of amusement. (3) When the game is over, they remove their masks(4) and are offered treats and then they are off to another house (5).

A custom that has largely died out in most places by the 1960’s, the Mi-Careme tradition in the province of Quebec has remained strong in only tree small and isolated francophones communities: Natasquan, Fatima and L'Ile-aux-Grues.

The festivities now last a week, with a crux at the community center on saturday night (6). Instead of rags on the head and charcoal for make-up, people dressed in elaborated design and handsewn garment and the masks are sometimes work of art(7), so they take weeks to get ready, all the while secretly, hiding in the basement (8).

In the community of L'Ile-aux-Grues, a very small island in the middle of the St-Laurence River, there is a distinct costume called "le gallonne", a sunday suit completely adorned with ribbons of all fashions (9).

The school in Fatima, situated in the Magdelan Islands, is closed for the week and the kids are escorted during their own mascarade night(10), or allowed to stay up late (11) .

Natasquan was also an isolated community on the Lower North Shore until a few years ago when it was linked by road to the rest of the country; they now hope the road will allow tourists to come and enjoy the party ! (12)